Fleming v. Social Security Administration Commissioner
Filing
12
ORDER. Signed by Honorable James R. Marschewski on January 12, 2012. (lw)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FORT SMITH DIVISION
TIMOTHY S. FLEMING
v.
PLAINTIFF
CIVIL NO. 11-2155
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner
Social Security Administration
DEFENDANT
ORDER
On August 18, 2011, Timothy S. Fleming [hereinafter “Plaintiff”] filed a complaint
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking judicial review of a decision of the Commissioner of the
Social Security Administration (“Commissioner”) denying his applications for disability
insurance benefits and supplemental security income pursuant to Titles II and XVI of the Social
Security Act. ECF No. 1. Defendant filed an answer to Plaintiff’s action on October 24, 2011,
asserting that the findings of the Commissioner were supported by substantial evidence. ECF
No. 7.
On January 12, 2012, the Commissioner, having changed positions, filed a motion
requesting that Plaintiff’s case be remanded pursuant to "sentence four" of section 405(g) in
order to conduct further administrative proceedings.
ECF No. 11.
Specifically, the
Commissioner seeks remand to allow the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) to reconsider
Plaintiff’s occupational status. ECF No. 11, at 1.
The exclusive methods by which a district court may remand a social security case to the
Commissioner are set forth in "sentence four" and "sentence six" of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). A
remand pursuant to "sentence six" is limited to two situations: where the Commissioner requests
a remand before answering the complaint, or where the court orders the Commissioner to
AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)
consider new, material evidence that was for good cause not presented before the agency. The
fourth sentence of the statute provides that "[t]he court shall have power to enter, upon the
pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision
of the Commissioner of Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing."
42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 296, 113 S.Ct. 2625 (1993).
Here, the undersigned finds remand to allow the ALJ to further evaluate the evidence
appropriate. Therefore, the Commissioner’s motion is granted and the case will be remanded
to the Commissioner for further administrative action pursuant to sentence four of section
405(g).
IT IS SO ORDERED this 12th day of January 2012.
/s/ J. Marschewski
HONORABLE JAMES R. MARSCHEWSKI
CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
-2-
AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)
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